Active holidays or ‘sportcations’ have been identified as the next big travel trend by Trip.com Group.
The online travel agency has reported strong double-digit increase in bookings, with Australia among the top five destinations.
From cycling through mountain passes to joining diving camps and wellness retreats, Trip.com said active travel was becoming a defining part of how people experience the world.
The shift is gathering pace across the full travel journey, with searches on Trip.com for active sports experiences growing by more than 30 per cent year-on-year.
Active travel is taking many forms, reflecting the wide range of interests shaping today's holidays. Globally, diving ranks as the most-booked sporting experience on Trip.com, followed by activities such as ziplining, paragliding, skydiving and cycling.
Adventure activities are proving especially popular across Asia. Diving leads bookings in South Korea, Malaysia, Germany, Spain, Italy and France. At the same time, skydiving ranks first in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand, while Japanese travellers show the strongest preference for cycling.
The data shows that five countries stand out across multiple types of active travel, with Thailand, China, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia appearing among the leading destinations across cycling, climbing, swimming, water sports and adventure experiences.
Trip.com said Australia was attracting travellers for cycling, rock climbing, surfing and kayaking, as well as adventure activities such as paragliding and skydiving. It said Australia’s presence across multiple categories reflected the growing appeal of destinations where travellers can combine diverse active experiences within the same holiday.
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